1. Medicaid Expansion
Will We Choose or Lose?
Medicaid Expansion is an essential economic and public health opportunity for
Mississippi and should be supported, passed into law and implemented.
Here’s What You Should Know:
Over the summer of 2012, the United States Supreme Court affirmed nearly all aspects of the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act, the federal healthcare reform legislation. One exception to the Court ruling was a provision
requiring states to expand eligibility for a state’s Medicaid program or face significant penalties. Under the Supreme
Court ruling, states will not face penalties for not participating in Medicaid expansion and must choose whether or not
to participate in the program which would be heavily financed by the federal government.
In Mississippi, Medicaid expansion would provide coverage to approximately 310,000 Mississippians – the majority of
whom are working. Individuals who would qualify for Medicaid through expansion are people earning too much to
qualify for Medicaid and too little to qualify for subsidies through the exchange. Among the occupations with the
highest number of low wage workers who are uninsured are cashiers, cooks, hair stylists, janitors and construction
workers.
Medicaid expansion is an economic opportunity for Mississippi.
1. According to a report by the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning, Medicaid Expansion will result in the
creation of 9,000 jobs – this could not come at better time as Mississippi reportedly has the same number of
jobs today as we did in 1996.
2. The federal government will cover 100% of the expense year one, two and three and no less than 90% when
the law is fully enacted.
3. Over $1 billion in NEW money will come to Mississippi and create jobs in the healthcare industry.
4. The legislature should prioritize the spending on expansion on job creation grounds just as it has done for large
economic development projects in the past.
5. A healthier workforce is a more productive workforce.
Medicaid expansion is a public health opportunity for Mississippi.
1. In states that have expanded Medicaid in the past, low-income individuals experienced lower death rates.
2. Uninsured individuals who are connected to Medicaid are more likely to get preventative care, have lower out of
pocket medical expenditures and report better physical and mental health than those without insurance.
3. One in five non-elderly individuals in Mississippi is uninsured. Individuals without health insurance delay going to
the doctor, miss important screenings and do not receive prescription medications when needed.
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2. Failing to expand Medicaid harms communities and makes Mississippi less competitive.
1. One result of the Affordable Care Act is that hospitals providing a disproportionate share of healthcare to the
uninsured will experience a loss in funds to cover those services over the next several years.
2. Regardless of whether or not Mississippi expands Medicaid, the reductions in payments to hospitals to cover the
uninsured will occur.
3. In rural communities, the cuts to hospitals could lead to layoffs and service reductions.
4. Rural communities that have a hospital that is forced to reduce services will encounter significant challenges
recruiting industry and engaging in economic development.
5. Within the Mid-South, Arkansas has already stated that it will expand Medicaid and Tennessee is considering
expansion. Florida just joined the states of expansion last week. If Mississippi does not expand, it will find itself
at a competitive disadvantage when trying to recruit businesses.
Given the cuts that hospitals will face, Mississippi faces a choice. It will either
have to find the money to keep institutions like University Medical Center at a
level similar to where it is now, or it can find the money to expand Medicaid,
create 9,000 jobs, connect 310,000 Mississippians to health insurance and bring in
over $1 billion in new money a year to the state. There is simply no option to
maintain the status quo.
Where do we go from here?
The House and Senate leadership have agreed to have a hearing on Medicaid expansion. It will be the first
discussion we’ve had this legislative session. These hearings are a step in the right direction. We must
expand Medicaid……we can’t choose to lose.
What have I done?
My responsibility as a law maker is to be informed and educated on many issues especially those that
impact my constituency. I have studied the issue and I am doing everything I can to make sure the hospitals
that serve my constituency and the people of the Mississippi Coast continue to have the services they need
here at home.
I would hate to see our residents forced to travel out of area - New Orleans, Mobile, Jackson - to receive
services that we no longer have due to not expanding the Medicaid program.
My duty is to serve passionately and continuously for the people of House District 119, South Mississippi
and the State of Mississippi as a whole.
What you can do to help?
Let your voice be heard. Please contact your legislators.
Document Authored and Published by: Representative Sonya Williams Barnes
February 27, 2013
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